Connecticut Expansion Construction, Tree Felling Approved

Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kinder Morgan, has received the green light from FERC for tree felling and full construction of the Connecticut Expansion Project.

“We are pleased that the FERC approved notice to proceed requests by Tennessee Gas Pipeline for tree clearing and full construction for its Connecticut Expansion Project,” said Kinder Morgan spokesman Richard Wheatley. “The project received a thorough and thoughtful review by state and federal agencies during the last two years.”

The battle concerning the project included legal arguments over the relationship between the Massachusetts Constitution and the U.S. Natural Gas Act. A Berkshire Superior Court judge ruled that the U.S. Natural Gas Act preempts a provision of the state constitution requiring legislative approval for the transfer of conservation land.

On April 9, the Narragansett Indian Tribal Historic Preservation Office filed a motion requesting a one-day extension to intervene on the pipeline, alleging construction would destroy 21 ceremonial stone landscapes.

The Connecticut Expansion Project includes approximately 13.42 miles of 24-inch and 36-inch diameter pipeline looping in Albany County, N.Y., Berkshire and Hampden Counties, Mass. and Hartford County, Conn., minor modifications at one compressor station in Massachusetts, and installation of minor appurtenant facilities. Once finished, it will provide approximately 72,100 dekatherms per day of additional firm natural gas transportation capacity.

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